Paperboard table

ABSTRACT

AN INEXPENSIVE TABLE OF NOVEL CONSTRUCTION IS MADE FROM PAPERBOARD OR OTHER COMPARABLE BENDABLE MATERIAL. THIS PERMITS FABRICATION FROM A FEW BASIC PARTS OF AN INEXPENSIVE TABLE WHICH CAN BE DISCARDED INSTEAD OF STORED AFTER RELATIVELY LIMITED USE AS MAY BE NEEDED AT PARTIES, CONVENTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE LIKE.

Nov. 16, 1971 RAN ETAL 3,620,175

PAPERBOARD TABLE Filed Jan. 14, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I u I M/AL mv 15?624: (fox-0v HAWK/MEGA! Nov. '16, 1971 w. a. CRANE ETAL 3,620,175

PAPERBOARD TABLE Filed Jan. 14, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W 20 M 2oINVENTORS 3 W41 70/\/ 5. C/QA/Vf if y Joy/v AQwA m/sa/v United StatesPatent 3,620,175 PAPERBOARD TABLE Walton B. Crane, Sherman Oaks, andJohn I-Iawkinson, Whittier, Califi, assignors to Protective Packaging,Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Filed Jan. 14, 1970, Ser. No. 2,808 Int. Cl. A47b 3/06 US. Cl. 108-15311 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inexpensive table of novelconstruction is made from paperboard or other comparable bendablematerial. This permits fabrication from a few basic parts of aninexpensive table which can be discarded instead of stored afterrelatively limited use as may be needed at parties, conventions,exhibitions, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally toarticles of furniture, and more particularly to tables that are made ofinexpensive materials and are suitable for temporary rather thanpermanent use.

There arises very often the need for small, inexpensive tables at socialgatherings, conventions, exhibitions, and the like, where. the need isof short duration and consequently strength and durability of thearticle are of secondary importance. Under these conditions, it isdesirable that the table be sufficiently inexpensive that it can bediscarded after limited use, rather than stored. At the same time, thetable needs to be sufiiciently strong or rigid that it securely supportslight articles. 1

For these uses, appearance may be of secondary importance since thetable can be covered by a cloth drape or the like. Also, other meansthan the usual procedures of finishing wood may be employed to provide apleasing appearance to the article.

Thus, it becomes a general object of the present invention to provide atable of novel construction which enables the use of thin bendable sheetmaterial as the stock from which the table is made.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novelconstruction for a table such that inexpensive materials may be used andthe table may be discarded after a relatively limited period of use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novelconstruction for a table that can be fabricated from parts stamped ordie-cut from relatively thin, flexible sheets of material, yet hassufficient strength and rigidity in the completed structure to holdlight objects without danger of collapsing the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other objects of the presentinvention have been achieved by providing a table comprising a hollowtubular pedestal upon top of which is supported a table top, said tabletop comprising upper and lower spaced sheets, each sheet having marginaltabs bent into overlapping relation with tabs of the other sheet andmeans fastening the tabs together to hold the sheets in spaced relation,the lower sheet having a cutout area providing an opening slidablyreceiving the upper end of the pedestal to mount the table. top on thepedestal.

Portions of the lower sheet that are located at the margin of the cutoutarea are bent upwardly at the margin of the cutout area to placeportions of the lower sheet in supporting engagement with the undersideof the upper sheet, thus giving stability to the upper sheet.Preferably, some of such bent-up portions of the lower sheet are alsoprovided to form a brace extending agross the 'ice cutout area to dividethe area into two parts. The pedestal has notches at its upper end atdiametrically situated locations to receive this brace section of thelower sheet.

The pedestal is made from a blank cut from thin sheet stock which isfolded into polygonal cross-section to form a hollow tubular member. Thesheet stock for the pedestal as well as the top may be any suitablesemirigid, foldable sheet material. The table top is made from twoblanks cut from thin sheet stock, each of which has a plurality of tabsaround the periphery of the central portion, the tabs of the two blanksbeing fastened together to form the hollow table top. In outline thetable top is preferably a polygon, though the marginal tabs may be sonumerous that the table is substantially circular.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS How the above objects and advantages of thepresent invention, as well as others not specifically mentioned herein,are attained will be more readily understood by reference to thefollowing description and to the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front and top perspective of a table embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, amid-portion of the pedestal being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on line 33 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a combined horizontal section and bottom plan view of thetable top looking upwardly along the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the flat cut blank from which the top sheet ofthe table is made;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the flat cut blank from which the lower sheetof the table top is made;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of 9. marginal portion ofthe blank of FIG. 5

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the flat cut blank from which the pedestal isformed, a central portion of the blank being broken away; and

FIG. 9 is a half-plan of a table top of octagonal outline.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,there is shown in FIG. 1 a completed table comprising a pedestalindicated generally at 10, and a table top indicated generally at 12.These are the two principal portions of the table that are finallyassembled, as will be further described, to form the completed article.

The pedestal is formed from a fiat blank 14 which is illustrated in FIG.7. This blank is preferably a sheet of paperboard of suitable thicknesswhich is scored along a plurality of parallel straight lines 15. Thesescores pro vide a series of bend lines at which the blank can be bent toform the 'fiat blank into the hollow tubular pedestal. At one side ofthe blank is left a tab 16 which is brought into overlapping relationwith the margin along the opposite edge of the blank (FIGS. 3 and 4) andis fastened thereto in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive, bystaples, or otherwise. The blank illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided withsix bend lines 15 With the result that the completed tubular article ishexagonal in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 4. The invention is notlimited to this specific shape, but it is preferred, for reasons whichwill become evident, that the pedestal be in cross-section a regularpolygon having an even number of sides.

Along one edge of blank 14, which Will become the upper edge of thepedestal, the blank is provided with a pair of notches 17 which are solocated that when the blank is finally erected in tubular form, thenotches are diametrically opposite each other. Optionally, the blankincludes a pair of slits 18 which are so located that y are midwaybetween the positions occupied by notches 17 in the completed tubularpedestal. The reason for this iS discussed below.

The opposite edge of the blank, which becomes the bOttom edge of thepedestal, may, for ornamental reasons, have a plurality of spacednotches 20.

Table top 12 comprises two sheets, an upper sheet 21 and a lower sheet22, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The upper sheet 21 is provided bythe central portion of blank 24 illustrated in FIG. 5 in its initial orflat state.

Blank 24 has an imperforate central area 21 around the margin of whichis a plurality of tabs 25. Each tab is joined to the central portion 21of blank 24 by a straight score or bend line 26 at the base of the tab.

Viewed in plan, blank 24 is circular or substantially so. Although eachbend line 26 is a straight line, each is short enough in the design ofFIG. 5 that collectively they define a substantially circular table topprovided by the central portion 21 of the blank. Assuming this shape ofthe blank, tabs 25 are separated by V-shaped notches 27 which are wideenough to permit the tabs to be bent into a position substantiallyninety degrees to the plane of sheet 21 without causing the tabs tooverlap.

These notches 27 are preferably as shown in FIG. 7, making the tabs 25narrower at their outer ends than they are at their bases 26. Thusinterference is avoided between adjoining tabs when bent ninety degreesfrom the plane of sheet 21 to fabricate the table top. The shape ofnotches 27 is variable at will to provide clearance and any desiredfinished appearance; but die-cutting the notches 27 is more satisfactoryif the radial cut lines at opposite sides of a tab do not bothcompletely extend to the base or score line 26 when the tabs arenumerous. This simplifies design of the cutting die since a single bladecan separate two adjoining tabs near their bases.

The invention is not limited to a circular shape for blank 24, and it iswithin the scope of the present invention to provide other shapes asdesired for the top of the table. Typical is an octagonal shape asillustrated at 12a in FIG. 9. Here, then, are only eight tabs bent alonglines 26a at their bases.

Lower sheet 22 of the table top is provided by blank 28 illustrated inFIG. 6 in its original fiat state. Like blank 24, blank 28 has aroundits periphery a plurality of marginal tabs each of which is joined atits base to the central panel 22 of the blank by a straight score orbend line 31. The tabs 30 are separated by notches 27 shaped as shown inand described in connection with FIG. 7. In erecting the table top, tabs30 are bent at ninety degrees along bend lines 31. A similar bending oftabs 25 permits the two blanks to be assembled in such relation that themarginal tabs on the two blanks are in overlapping relationship andcentral portions 21 and 22 of the blanks are parallel and spaced apartby a distance determined primarily by the length of tabs 30. Thediameter of blank 24 is preferably slightly greater than that of blank28 so that the tabs of the upper sheet are outside those of the lowersheet, as may be seen clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Considering that the portion of blank 28 bounded by tabs 30 and bendlines 31 is the lower sheet 22 of the table top, this lower sheet has acentrally located cutout area which is defined by a combination of cutsand bend lines, indicated respectively by solid and broken lines in FIG.6.

The general outline of this cutout area conforms to the external outlineof pedestal 10, since the purpose of the cutout is to provide an openingin the lower sheet for slidably receiving the upper end of the pedestalto support the table top on the pedestal.

However, rather than having the cutout area a single continuous opening,it is preferable that the cutout area is in two parts which areseparated by section 33 of the lower sheet. The width of this section 33is determined by the spacing between the two bend lines 34 which areparallel to each other and are preferably equally spaced from a paralleldiameter of blank 28.

Subpanels 35 are joined to central panel 22 along bend lines 34 and eachis separated along the remainder of the perimeter from main panel by endcuts 36 at the margin of the cutout area and side cut 37 which isparallel to bend lines 34 and separates the subpanel 35 from othersubpanels that will be described. Each subpanel 35 has a second bendline 38 parallel to bend line 34 so that by bending the two subpanelsthrough ninety degrees, first along bend lines 34 and then in the samedirection along bend lines 38, a substantially box-like brace orreinforcing structure is provided as indicated generally at 40 in FIG.2. This brace 40 extends across the pedestal and is received in notches17, which are sized to receive the reinforcing structure.

Subpanels 35, when bent upwardly, engage the underside of upper sheet 21and support the sheet centrally thereof against sagging under the weightof anything resting on top of the sheet. This support is improved byproviding subpanels 35 with the median bend lines 38 so that a portionof the subpanel engages the upper side of the table top in face-to-facerelation; although it will be realized that substantial reinforcingsupport would be provided even though out 37 were placed substantiallyat the position of fold line 38. Then only the cut edge of the subpanelwould engage the top sheet.

Reinforcing support for the upper sheet of the top may likewise beprovided by the four triangular subpanels 42, one side of which isprovided by cuts 37, and the other side of which is formed by cuts 43.Each of these triangular panels 42 is joined to the main panel by a bendline 44 which is in prolongation of a cut 36. These triangular panelsare likewise provided near their midpoint with bend lines parallel tothe base bend lines 44 in order to engage the upper panel over a greaterarea than the cut edge of the sheet.

The remainder of the cutout area in the lower sheet of the top isprovided by that area of panel 22 at each side of section 33 which isbounded on opposite sides by cuts 43, cut 37, and bend line 45, thelatter being at the margin of the cutout area and being parallel to cut37 and bend line 34. In one form of the invention, this entire area canbe bent upwardly to provide reinforcing support for the top area in thesame manner as already described in connection with subpanels 34 and 42.

However, it is preferred to cut out of this area the central locking tab48 which is joined to the main panel along the score line 45. By bendingthe tab 48 downwardly through ninety degrees along score 45 and then inthe opposite direction along a median parallel bend line, the free endof the tab can be inserted in one of slits 18, as shown in FIG. 2. Thetab passing through the slit 18 provides locking means for releasablylocking top 12 to pedestal 10, thereby insuring that when the table ispicked up by grasping the table top 12, the top is not separated fromthe pedestal. This is merely an example of one type of locking means,and it is of course within the scope of the present invention to providelocking means of other construction.

When the tabs 48 are cut as described, there remains at each side of thetab 48 a subpanel 50 which is joined to the main panel along bend line45. These irregularly shaped subpanels 50 may likewise be bent upwardlyinto contact with the underside of the table top to provide additionalpoints of reinforcing support for the upper sheet of the table top.

In assembling the table, first the two blanks 24 and 28 are assembledand fastened together by bending the marginal tabs of each intooverlapping relation and fastening the tabs together. Next, thereinforcing subpanels of the lower sheet are bent upwardly along thebend lines 34, 44 and 45 at which these tabs are connected to the lowersheet, thus forming a recess in the table top or cutout area in thelower sheet into which the upper end of pedestal is slidably received.By proper dimensioning of the pedestal in the cutout area, a firmfrictional engagement between the table top and the pedestal isobtained; but, as explained above, it may be preferred to provideadditional means for coupling the table top to the pedestal by thelocking tabs 48.

It will be appreciated that the subpanels of the lower sheet are allmaintained in an upwardly bent position by engagement with portions ofthe pedestal. For example, subpanels 35 are maintained upwardly bent byengagement with the sides of notches 17. Other subpanels, such as 42 and50, are bent around the margin of the cutout area and engage the outerface of the pedestal 10 which maintains them in the upwardly bentposition.

In order to enhance the appearance of the completed but undraped tablemade from paperboard, it may be desired to cover the top with adecorative paper coated on one side with pressure-sensitive adhesive andbearing a facsimile of wood grain on the other side. A tape of thischaracter can be placed around the edge of the table top, as indicatedat 54 in FIG. 1, to cover the edge of the table and the notches betweenoutside tabs 25. Also, the top of the table can be covered with a sheet55 conforming to the shape of the table top and thus provide a pleasingappearance to the finished article. The same may be done with thepedestal if desired. On the other hand, when the entire article issubstantially concealed by a cloth or the like draped over the table,such embellishment as the wood grain finish may be omitted.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that various changesin the exact shape, design, and construction of the table embodying thepresent invention may be made by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Forexample, the table is not limited to corrugated paperboard as the stockmaterial. Other suitably strong, semirigid, yet bendable, sheet stockmay be employed, especially when cost is of less importance or greaterdurability is desired. Accordingly, it is contemplated that theforegoing description is to be considered as illustrative of, ratherthan limitative upon, the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A table made of semi-rigid, foldable sheet material comprising:

a hollow, tubular pedestal; and

a top supported on the pedestal and comprising:

upper and lower spaced sheets, the upper sheet having downwardly bentmarginal tabs and the lower sheet having upwardly bent marginal tabs,with the tabs of upper and lower sheets in overlapping relation, andmeans fastening the tabs together,

the lower sheet having a cutout area providing an opening slidablyreceiving the upper end of the pedestal.

. into engagement with the upper one of the sheets.

4. A table as in claim 1 which includes portions of the lower sheetlocated at the margin of the cutout area and bent along two parallelbend lines to place portions of the lower sheet in supporting engagementwith the underside of the upper one of the sheets.

5. A table as in claim 1 which includes means releasably locking the topto the pedestal.

6. A table as in claim 1 in which the tabs are bent along straight linesand the table top is polygonal in outline.

7. A table as in claim 6 in which the table top is octagonal in outline.

8. A table comprising:

a hollow, tubular pedestal; and

a top supported on the pedestal and comprising:

upper and lower spaced sheets, the upper sheet having downwardly bentmarginal tabs and the lower sheet having upwardly bent marginal tabs,with the tabs of upper and lower sheets in overlapping relation, andmeans fastening the tabs together;

integral portions of the lower sheet bent upwardly away from the planeof the lower sheet into engagement with the upper sheet; and

the lower sheet including means for connecting the top to the pedestal.

9. A table as in claim 8 in which the cutout area is in two partsseparated by a section of the lower sheet and the pedestal has spacednotches to receive said section of the lower sheet.

10. A table as in claim 8 which includes means releasably locking thetop to the pedestal.

11. A table as in claim 8 in which the tabs of the upper and lowersheets are bent along straight lines substantially ninety degrees to theplane of the respective sheets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,821 6/1935 Blake 108-157 X2,936,880 5/1960 Kohlhaas 229-14 C X 3,107,780 10/1963 Stuckert 229-14 CX 3,425,764 2/1969 Budd 297-462 X JAMES C. MITCHELL, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

